US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed to him that India would stop buying oil from Russia. The Republican leader described the move as a ‘big step’ in a bid to marginalize Moscow economically. “He just said that two days ago, as you know. I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step,” Trump said while responding to ANI’s question on whether he considered India a reliable partner.
The US President further added that he will ‘now have to get China to do the same thing.” Meanwhile, he reaffirmed his close ties with PM Modi, stating that he has a great relationship with his friend, PM Modi. Trump also criticized India’s previous oil imports from Moscow: “We were not happy with him buying oil from Russia, because that lets Russia continue with this ridiculous war, where they’ve lost a million and a half people, by the way. Russia has lost a million and a half people, soldiers mostly.”
Washington has repeatedly urged New Delhi to halt Russian oil imports and diversify its energy sources. However, India has long defended its purchases from Moscow as essential for economic stability. Trump labeled the ongoing conflict unnecessary, saying, “This is a war that should have never started, but it’s a war that Russia should have won in the first week, and they’re going into the fourth year. And I want to see it stop. So I was not happy that India was buying oil.”
Reflecting on his recent diplomatic achievements, Trump said, “You know, that is relatively easy compared to what we just did over the last week in the Middle East. Middle East was 3,000 years, and we got it done. This is three years.”
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